//Kharas investigates N$700 000 payment to toddler

The//Kharas Regional Council has called a special meeting over an alleged irregular payment authorised by its acting chief, which is now under police investigation.

The special council meeting to be held today will seek clarity from acting chief regional officer Ralph Sachika, who is accused of allegedly authorising a payment meant for August 26 Construction to a third party.

The Namibian on Friday reported that a portion of the money paid to the company awarded a tender to construct classrooms in the //Kharas region – an amount of N$700 000 – was allegedly paid to Sachika’s two-year-old daughter.

Council chairperson Joseph Isaacks saysthe council is aware of the tender awarded to August 26 Construction, as well as their subcontractors being paid regularly by the council for various contracts.

This includes the construction of classrooms and the council’s office park.

However, Isaacks said the council was not aware of a payment of over N$3 million made to an internet company called Tushiko Internet Technologies CC – with Sachika’s authorisation.

“For us it is important that we get to the truth as quickly as possible in this matter. Therefore, we have called a special council meeting, and we have asked Sachika to present the documentation presented to him upon which the alleged payments were instructed,” he adds.

RAISED IN NA

Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda revealed the matter in the National Assembly (NA) last week as he questioned minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi about the involved payments.

Amupanda alleged that, following meetings between Titus Iipumbu and Sachika, an amount of over N$3 million was paid – with Sachika’s authorisation – to an internet company called Tushiko Internet Technologies CC.

He claimed that although the payments were made to Tushiko Internet, the funds were actually paid into a bank account of Tushiko Investments CC before being transferred to an account owned by Maria Iipumbu.

Amupanda claimed Maria Iipumbu then made several payments to numerous individuals, including Titus Iipumbu who received more than N$2 million, while N$700 000 was paid into Lusia Jacob’s FNB account.

After this, the money found its way into the bank account of the two-year-old daughter of Jacob and Sachika.
According to Amupanda, his investigation indicates that Sachika also received money from Jacob, traced back to the money he authorised to be paid to Tushiko Internet.

“This middleman, August 26 Construction, got a tender to build the //Kharas Regional Council office park. Typical of middlemen operators, August 26 Construction subcontracted Ultimate Traders CC for the supply and installation of furniture amounting to N$3.1 million.

“It is not that this hero’s middleman company cannot supply furniture directly, it is because the comrades must eat,” said Amupanda.
Of this amount, N$2.9 million has already been paid to [Ultimate Traders CC],” he alleged.

//Kharas police commander Marius Katamila said a joint investigation with the Commercial Crime Investigation Division was launched into the matter last year as the acting chief regional officer made a case of fraud on 8 November 2024 concerning the matter.

Katamila said Sachika alleged in the dossier that Iipumbu submitted fraudulent letters and documents purporting to be from August 26 Construction authorising the redirection of millions from August 26 Construction to the internet company, including a fake memorandum of agreement of cessation.

Katamila said August 26 Holdings also opened a parallel case in Windhoek.

“Currently we are awaiting a response from the prosecuting authority about the jurisdiction of where the case should be investigated, since Windhoek has a case and //Kharas has a case.

“We are talking about money and internet payments, so with financial crimes you have to deal with issues such as the point of origin,” Katamila said.

The police have collected affidavits from several council employees related to the investigation.

Kapofi is expected to respond to these inquiries during an NA session on Thursday.